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Over 100 PBS local stations start streaming on YouTube TV

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Re: Over 100 PBS local stations start streaming on YouTube TV

#71

Post by II2II »

aguyfromnb wrote: post #38
gtirloni wrote: post #3

I would expect PBS, of all TV stations, to be less constrained by distribution contracts and to be able to stream their content worldwide. Instead, they choose Youtube TV which is US-only.

> Instead, they choose Youtube TV which is US-only. I'm an avid PBS Frontline viewer (some of the best documentaries out there). As a Canadian, I can watch most of them on the PBS website, but the odd time an episode will be rights restricted. I assume this is because of footage or music that they are unable to clear the licenses for outside of the US. And really, as a publicly funded broadcaster, why should they car…

I was sifting through the comments hoping to discover that this is available in Canada. It is disappointing that it is not because PBS was available over the air or as part of basic cable service in many Canadian communities. Border stations were quite active in soliciting funds from Canadian viewers, and many Canadians grew up with their programming. I don't know what the current state of affairs is with PBS since I have not watched television for over 15 years, but would be interested in seeing PBS extend its reach into Canada for others to benefit from.

Re: Over 100 PBS local stations start streaming on YouTube TV

#72

Post by lucky_cloud »

hooande wrote: post #63

90% of what I watch on tv is PBS. I could see myself switching to YouTube TV just for this. Granted PBS is over the air for free and all of their shows are online for $5/mo. but I like my local station's lineup selections, etc

The $5/month (or more) will get you more than what's currently free to stream, and you'll support your local station.

(for disclosure, I work for a PBS station)

Re: Over 100 PBS local stations start streaming on YouTube TV

#75

Post by lucky_cloud »

larnmar wrote: post #2

Can anyone explain why PBS television stations are local rather than nationwide? I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a local program on one, but they seem to have a huge extra layer of bureaucracy in order to broadcast the same programs in a hundred different locations.

I work for a PBS station. There are many bureaucratic hurdles, but distribution is actually one of the things we do best.

As some others have commented, the local/national split works well for PBS and NPR. The model is similar to how local broadcast affiliates work (like your local ABC or CBS station) but is more mutually beneficial.

I can try to answer any specific questions you have, if you want.

Re: Over 100 PBS local stations start streaming on YouTube TV

#76

Post by Consultant32452 »

catalogia wrote: post #62
duncan-donuts wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Still gotta admit PBS’s current kid television is way better than anything on Disney/Nickelodeon. We only have an antenna a we watch a lot of PBS. I really, really dislike the kids shows on Disney/Nickelodeon

PBS is fortunate that Disney/Nickelodeon are so egregiously bad they make anybody else look good. Shit, even the toy-shilling 'saturday morning' cartoons of the 80s weren't as bad.

This is something I've been puzzling about for a while. Marketing is evolving every generation but human perception/brains is not. People get PhDs in this stuff. We don't seem to be building better defenses, either biologically or culturally, against the ever improving marketers. There's no telling what the end result will be, but I'm not looking forward to finding out.

Re: Over 100 PBS local stations start streaming on YouTube TV

#77

Post by cgy1 »

jdlyga wrote: post #19

YouTube TV is nice, but is missing all the Viacom cable channels that are on the other streaming services (Comedy Central, MTV, etc).

As far as I am aware, having Viacom channels is the exception rather than the rule for streaming cable providers. Along with Youtube TV, Hulu TV, Playstation Vue, and Fubo TV also do not carry Viacom channels.

Re: Over 100 PBS local stations start streaming on YouTube TV

#79

Post by corodra »

shantly wrote: post #35
shitloadofbooks wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is "pre-elmoization" Sesame Street and why do you think it's better?

Big Bird used to clearly be the "main" or primary point-of-view character. He behaved somewhat older than the lower range of the target audience and so was a good aspirational, but not unrelatably-old, character for them. Then Elmo became highly bankable (Tickle Me Elmo) and they leaned hard on him. Elmo is... not as good for modeling behavior and interactions.

Something else about big bird, his costume is crazy expensive for upkeep. They have a high standard of quality for feathers, and the longer, iconic feathers are both delicate and expensive. Theres a good reason his screen time and physical interactions have been scaled back. Elmo was a perfect replacement, but was also an accident character. Cant blame them for their choices in my opinion.

Re: Over 100 PBS local stations start streaming on YouTube TV

#80

Post by MisterOctober »

vhold wrote: post #37
Ericson2314 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you tell me more about the Elmoization of Sesame Street?

Sesame street was considerably funkier, psychedelic and kind of gritty. Elmo was a herald of a much cleaner and sort of infantilized Sesame Street. The massive commercial success of the Elmo toys especially made it feel like it had become very commercial and a lot less grassroots. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ul7X5js1vE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwio5qGg8o4

Totally -- the "Bridgekeeper," that animated circle bit with Phillip Glass music in the background, "123456789101112" with Pointer Sisters, Cab Calloway, and generally more realish kids and grown-ups on the set -- as a kid, I always felt like Sesame Street was cool and hip, as opposed to some "kid's show" that was talking down to me
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